Twenty-seven cases of Omicron XBB.1.16 sub-variant infection have been detected in Thailand, according to the latest information released on April 17^th, but there is no evidence that the sub-variant is as serious as the Delta variant, which was prevalent about two years ago, before the Omicron variant, according to Dr. Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Medical Sciences Department.

Although laboratory findings show that the XBB.1.16 sub-variant spreads slightly faster than XBB.1.5, he said that it will take at least two more weeks to determine whether XBB.1.16 is capable of spreading faster.

The most common symptoms associated with XBB.1.16 sub-variant infection include a cough, fever and a sore throat, with some patients also suffering eye infection or irritation, said Dr. Supakit, as he dismissed the suggestion that XBB.1.16 is as potent as the Delta variant.

He said that infections by the two sub-variants under watch in Thailand, XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9.1, are increasing, while BA.1.75 infections, which used to be the dominant sub-variant, have been dropping steadily.

Rapid antigen test kits can still be used to test for XBB.1.16 about five days after infection, he said, adding that testing on the first day of suspected infection may produce a negative result, because the virus load in the body may be insufficient for detection.

Dr. Supakit said, however, that the dominant global sub-variant remains XBB.1.5, which accounts for 47.9% of all new COVID-19 infections, but XBB1.16 infections, currently accounting for 4% of all new infections, are steadily increasing in many parts of the world, such as in India and the United States.

Numbers of infections are not as important as the percentage increase, because the more cases which are tested, the greater the number of positive cases, said Dr. Supakit, as he advised the public to get vaccinated, to wear face masks in public venues and to reduce risky activities.